Public Safety Staff

Michael LeBlanc is the Director of Public Safety at Hendrix College and also an Associate Faculty Member with Ashford University. He has been married for 30 years to his wife Marlena. The couple has two daughters, Amber, 27, and Selby, 24. In 2013, he completed his bachelor's degree in Emergency Management/Homeland Security and, in 2015, completed his master's degree in Teaching and Learning with Technology, both with Ashford University. Originally from Downriver Detroit, Michigan, Michael entered into military service after high school and is a Gulf War and War on Terror veteran, having completed three separate deployments. He has over 13 years of experience in the United States Air Force as a Security Police Military Working Dog Handler. He was certified as an Explosive, Narcotics, and Patrol Dog Handler. After leaving the military, he spent the next 13 years in civilian law enforcement as a Patrol K9 Officer in Rogers, Arkansas, and as Sergeant in charge of patrol and special operations with the DeWitt Police Department in Iowa. He has undergone specialized training in K9 Operations, Special Weapons and Tactics, and Crime Scene Investigations. Before coming to Hendrix, he spent five years as the Director of Security and Safety at Ashford University - Clinton Campus, and he taught Introduction to Criminal Justice for the past three years as a Post-Secondary Education Opportunity (PSEO) college-level class at the Clinton High School. Some of his notable achievements include being named a Distinguished USAF NCO Academy Graduate; being selected for Secret Service support for two Presidents; graduating from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Executive Development Institute at George Washington University; graduating as Defense Security Service Anti-Terrorism Officer Level II; and receiving law enforcement certifications in Iowa and Arkansas. Michael believes the key to success is effective communication.

Assistant Director of Public Safety David Bugh has been at Hendrix College since leaving the United States Air Force in 1992. His career as an Air Force Security Policeman began in 1980 shortly after his graduation from Bedford North Lawrence High School in Bedford, Indiana. He has been stationed at RAF Upper Heyford in the United Kingdom, Little Rock AFB in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas. He has two adult daughters and three granddaughters. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife Pamela and working on projects around their house.

A lifelong Conway resident, Matt Brown has worked in public service in some capacity for the past 14 years, starting with the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) side and transitioning to contracted security and law enforcement. "I've been told that I'm 'just a big teddy bear,' but I guess that depends on who you ask. A saying that I hold myself to is 'If you're too afraid to do your job, then you will never do it correctly.' I look forward to working together with everyone so that we can continue to make Hendrix College the best possible."

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Russ Clarke has lived in Arkansas (1982 - 1986, 1990 - present) and Okinawa, Japan (1986 - 1990). Russ graduated from Wayne High School in Dayton Ohio in 1980 and has completed several Law Enforcement Schools and Training Courses, including 56 semester hours of Criminology classes through the Community College of the Air Force. He is a retired United States Air Force Security Police Officer, reaching the rank of Technical Sergeant. While serving his country, Russ was responsible for a wide array of duties in the law enforcement branch of the Air Force. He performed duties as a Flight Chief, supervising up to 50 personnel; Director of Security Forces Plans & Programs; and Vehicle Officer in Charge. He is a combat veteran who has been deployed to three combat missions in foreign lands. Upon retirement in 2002, Russ started his second career with Hendrix College as a Public Safety Officer and currently performs duties as a day shift patrolman with additional duties in the Key and Access program. Russ enjoys his family, including five grandchildren, as well as fishing, hunting, and team sports. An avid fisherman, Russ is one of the top Crappie Anglers in Arkansas, taking Angler of the Year for three years in a row. If he is not at Hendrix, there a good chance he is fishing.

James T. Fulmer(J.T.) was born in Searcy, Arkansas, almost 60 years ago. The youngest of four children, J.T. was raised in and around central Arkansas. He was interested in sports as a child, but his love of reading overshadowed that. After graduating from Jacksonville High School, he built custom cabinets for three years. In 1979, he joined the U.S. Army and trained as a Military Policeman. He spent the next 12 years at various duty stations, including Germany, Panama, West Point, N.Y.; and Texas. After returning to White County in Arkansas, he worked for various police departments until his retirement in 2009. J.T. became a Hendrix College Public Safety Officer in April 2011. J.T. is still an avid reader, mostly early science fiction. He lives in Beebe with his best friend, Kimberly, and her two granddaughters. J.T. likes to repurpose old furniture and work in his yard. He has enjoyed his time at Hendrix and looks forward to serving the community for years to come.

Officer Craig Geans joined the Hendrix Public Safety Department in early 2016. An Illinois native, he served as the Alternate Day Assignment Supervisor and student supervisor at Riverside Brookfield High School, ranked 76th Best High School in the nation by Newsweek magazine. He coached high school basketball at the freshman and sophomore levels for 14 years. One of his biggest accomplishments was initiating a mentor program for at-risk students and serving as a motivational mentor for at-risk minority students participating in the school's ACT prep program. "One of the things I love the most about my job is the ability to interact with students here a Hendrix College," he said.

A Conway resident since 1993, DeAnna Hagar was a Faulkner County Reserve Deputy Sheriff for nine years, achieving the rank of Lieutenant - 2nd in command. She retired from the U.S. Post Office after 31 years. She has been married for 24 years to Pam Hager. They have one son, two grandsons, six cats, two dogs and five chickens. "In my spare time, I have a passion for any outside activity, especially kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, and road cycling."

As part of the growing Hendrix College community, Jan Lee is currently serving as a public safety officer on the day shift. She began a career in law enforcement with the Little Rock Police Department in 1994, working in the patrol division. Looking for a way to become more involved with the community, she became a bike officer. Looking for additional challenges, she was assigned to the Mobile Unit, a specialized squad that traveled to any area in Little Rock experiencing high criminal activities that overtaxed the patrol divisions, such as burglaries, assaults, etc. She was an active LRPD Special Response Unit member, handling riots, large crowds, and other special emergencies. During her off-duty time, she worked as an EMT for MEMS, teaching CPR at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS). She became a member of the Arkansas Disaster Medical Team (AR-DMAT) to help develop her skills and serve Arkansas. In 2004, Jan was sent to Afghanistan by the Department of Defense as an International Police Officer. Working at the Central Training Academy in Kabul, her duties included training the local population to become police officers for the Afghanistan Police Force. As a police mentor, she led training courses, including Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.), investigations, etc. Jan was asked to join the family unit, which created domestic violence units in as many police stations across Afghanistan as possible. She left Afghanistan in 2007 to return home to the United States. Jan has three boys and enjoys many exciting hobbies including scuba diving, skydiving, hiking, and other less physical hobbies, such as reading, watching a good movie, and shopping at estate sales. She serves as a consultant/advisor for the Robert Mack Scholarship Foundation. Jan, who started her career at Hendrix in 2009, is looking forward to serving the campus community for many years to come.

Officer Lucas was born and raised in Mississippi, the fifth of eight children. In 1974, he joined the United States Marines and was shipped overseas. "I met my wife of 34 years from Arkansas in 1977 and married in 1982. I have one daughter 17 years old. My favorite hobby is going to NASCAR races and watching NASCAR on TV every weekend. When I'm not watching NASCAR, I enjoy sitting at home in my recliner, having a cold beverage and playing Sniper Ghost Warrior or Golf with my best friend of 54 years on my PlayStation gaming system until the wee hours of the morning."

In 1972, Bart Puckett joined the Boy Scouts and, in 1977, became an Eagle Scout and Brotherhood of the Order of the Arrow. After five years in the United States Air Force, he began a 30-year law enforcement career and retired after 20 years with the Conway Police Department. He is a life member of Master, Scottish Rite, and York Rite Mason's; a life member of the U.S. Air Force Sargent's Association; and a life member of numerous law enforcement organizations. "Some of my personal interest and hobbies are World War I and World War II history. I like archery and won several medals when I was stationed in Germany for three years."

Josh moved to Conway from upstate New York in 2004, quite the change of pace. After the initial culture shock, he graduated from Vilonia High School in 2009 and served six years in the Army Reserves as a Medic and Combat Engineer. He worked private security at a local corporation and worked as a seasonal Park Ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers. In 2016, he became a Faulkner County Sheriff's Reserve Unit member and began working part-time as a Public Safety Officer at Hendrix before becoming a full-time officer in December 2016. "On my off time, I enjoy working on computer hardware, reading fiction and nonfiction, playing PC games, hiking, listening to podcasts, and watching a variety of video content (Netflix, Youtube, Crunchyroll, etc.). My favorite book series is the Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin. My favorite television series is Game of Thrones. My favorite film is The Guest starring Dan Stevens.

Dane Wyatt, 26, from Vilonia, has been married for six years to his high school sweetheart. They have two daughters, Maycee, 4, and Zada, 2. A U.S. Army veteran, he spent six years as a paralegal specialist stationed in Germany and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. When asked what he enjoys to do outside of his job as a Hendrix College Public Safety Officer, he said "I enjoy fishing and hunting in my free time, especially if I can get the girls to touch a worm." Dane enjoys watching movies and listening to music, his favorite movie is 8 Seconds with Luke Perry and Steven Baldwin. His favorite song is "Weatherman" by Hank Williams, Jr.